Chapter 32

As the empire’s greatest prosecutor, he knew that Irene had not gone away without looking back.

The great Kristen knew what Irene would say.

Praises and praises to win his favor.

She would appeal to him that she truly loves Noel.

He thought she was going to introduce herself.

But she broke all those expectations and just stood still without a word. The great Kristen stubbornly looked only at the wall, and Irene steadfastly looked at his back. As each other was conscious of each other, only silence flowed.

How much time had passed? As the sun began to set, Noel came back inside with a worried face. As if time had stopped, Noel couldn’t hide his confusion at the appearance of the two which had not changed at all since he left.

“Irene, we need to go back now.”

If she delayed further she might be caught by the Countess. At Noel’s words, Irene was the first to speak.

“I’ll see you again tomorrow. Good night.”

Even without seeing his face, Irene left the room with Noel.

Tak. As the door closed, the great Kristen looked back. Looking at the empty room, he made a strange expression.

***

“Why did you do that? You were so reckless.”

On the way back. When Noel asked in the wagon, Irene smiled awkwardly and replied.

“If you force a conversation on someone who doesn’t want to talk, I think you’ll only get half-hearted answers. I wanted to let him know that I would wait until he looked back.”

Noel, who did not know that Irene’s strange behavior meant that, faced one surprising hit. Irene, unaware of his condition, seemed a little embarrassed.

“It doesn’t seem like it worked well. I still don’t want to give up. I want to see him again tomorrow if possible. Please help me.”

Irene looked up at him and said. Noel looked confused for a moment, and then said to her.

“Aren’t you the one helping me. I should be the one to say that.”

“Ah…”

“Please help me, Irene.”

Irene’s olive eyes rolled back and forth as he spoke quietly. Soon she answered with a small nod.

“…Yes.”

Noel quietly smiled at a feeble voice that was so weak that he might have missed it.

***

The next day, the two met at the same time, at the same place, and headed to the Grand Duke of Kristen. Still, the second was a little less tense than the first. Noel was still anxious, but he respected her thoughts.

“Hello. Did you sleep well all night? I like the weather today.”

This time she went into the room alone and spoke. She even brought out private stories. But the Great Kristen was still turning his back on her. Of course there was no answer. However, Irene did not despair or give up. She got into a relationship that had been broken for a very long time. She knew she couldn’t be easily accepted.

Tick tock tick tock. The sound of the second hand of the clock in the room proved that the passage of time in this room did not stop. However, without the clock, the inside of the room would look like a space where time had freezed. Even today, the great Kristen and Irene were still there without saying anything.

“Irene.”

And when the sun went down, Noel came in quietly. His face was crumpled. Even if she was trying to persuade his grandfather, he felt uncomfortable and angry as she seemed to be suffering too much. Did he hate him to join the Dukedom in this way? Because he had half of the commoners’ blood?

“Let’s go. Irene. It’s useless.”

Noel convinced her, but Irene was stubborn. Irene still bowed her head towards the great Kristen, who only showed his back.

“I’ll come again tomorrow. Good night.”

The moment she said that, his back turned. For the first time in two days, the voice of the Great Kristen was heard.

“Don’t come.”

The content was not very hopeful. Noel clenched his fists, but Irene still bowed her head toward him with a calm expression and left the mansion.

“You’re neglected, but aren’t you angry?”

Noel said in the carriage as if it was stuffy. He was so angry and frustrated when he’s watching from the side, but she is rather casual. He tried to tell her not to do that anymore for her own good.

“Because I’m used to being ignored,” she said.

However, her words returned his boiling inside to cold. Irene said with a light smile.

“I’m used to looking at someone’s back, so it’s not hard, and it’s for both you and me. It is never in vain. So, Noel, please trust me a little more.”

Noel looked at her silently. Her first desperate and timid appearance was nowhere to be seen, and now she was full of conviction and indescribable self-confidence.

“Irene….”

As he recited her name, Irene, who hesitated for a moment, muttered .

“I think I can try a little more, just a little more.”

At her words, Noel exhaled a sigh.

“You know, you are very stubborn.”

Irene replied with a faint smile.

“Thank you.”

***